Graukes come to Visit!

Graukes on the Natchez Trace-Barb's got hair!!!!

My sister, Barbara, and her family came to visit for a few days several weeks ago.  We got a lot of eating and visiting in during the week.   Barbara, Jim, Jay and Amy went to downtown Nashville on two different days (those teenagers mean a late start in the morning!) to see the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, The Ryman, Crazy Horse Saloon, etc.

Barbara, Amy, Jim, Jay at the Loveless

Tuesday morning Barbara and I headed out early to have breakfast at Merridee's and then visit The Quilting Squares and Stitchers' Garden.   Barbara is the sister that also quilts and she has a new project to work on:)  When we met up with the rest of her crew, we headed out to the Natchez Trace and The Loveless Cafe for a late lunch.   That night we went to the Grand Ole Opry - great seats this time and we all had a great time.

Grand Ole Opry

Barbara & Amy at
The Puffy Muffin

One day we declared "ladies day" and Barbara, Amy and I went to the Puffy Muffin for breakfast and then out to "Fontenal", the former home of Barbara Mandrell.  It was fabulous!!!  Huge log cabin style home (17,000 sq ft or so) in a beautiful setting. It was fun seeing how the rich and famous live!

Dining Room at the Fontenel

With Jack!!

On Friday, we headed to the Jack Daniels' Distillery.  I think this was Jay's favorite place.  We toured the distillery, ate lunch in Lynchburg, and did some serious souvenir shopping.  Our next stop was Huntsville, AL.  We met Janet and Nick at their new house so they could show the family.  After we all had dinner, Barbara and her crew drove a few hours towards home so their drive on Saturday would be a little shorter.



It's always fun having visitors!!!

Antique Linens

After I turned my master bedroom into a Sewing Studio, my new much smaller bedroom needed some design help.  Nick and Janet helped move boxes in my storage unit so I could get to the ones containing the linens I had inherited.

This redo was pretty easy to do and involved very little sewing or cutting/damaging the linens.  I have the quilt I made earlier this year on the bed now as it is very summery looking but will change the quilts with the seasons.  I also have another white tablecloth that looks really pretty as a coverlet - but is not a good choice with my black/white cat.

Overall view - the headboard was "FREE" (a trade for some sewing) and is just screwed to the wall;
 the euros I found on sale in Chattanooga;
the long bolster I made with a tablecloth; the two small pillows I made with tea towels; the old
silver pot and china cup were my grandmothers (one from each side).  I plan to add pictures of my grandparents
and parents to complete the "antique" look.  My bedside table is my grandmother's sewing table.

 To make the pillow shams, I bought double faced satin ribbon for the side ties.  I could only find bright white or ecru.   Neither was quite right so I tea dyed the white briefly so it would blend in with the white of the towels.  (to do that soak the ribbon in brewed tea until it is a little darker than you want.  Rinse and dry).  I made the pillow forms out of an old pillow case.  The idea at first was to just tie the towels around the pillows.  That didn't work as I thought so I blind stitched the botttoms together.  Cost:  ribbon and a bag of poly filler.

The bolster was made with a purchased form ($10 at Bed, Bath & Beyond) and another old tablecloth.  I folded the tablecloth over envelope style; stitched the ends; done!!

Close up of headboard.  Someone made this using an old shutter
and adding the shelf and rail.  I could have hung it either way but
wanted to use the shelf for display.  Free!!

It was hard to get a good picture of the window covering!
I bought some glass doorknob reproductions at Hobby Lobby
and mounted them to some wood blocks spraypainted white.  The lace tablecloth
is just folded diagonally and draped over the doorknobs.
Cost - about $15 for the doorknobs/wood/spray paint

My new bedskirt is made with two antique tablecloths.  I did
not cut these at all!  Just ironed them carefully and laid
them over the boxspring so they would hang to the floor.  I didn't
have one big enough so used one for the side and one for the
end.  I didn't worry about the other side because it is almost against
the wall and isn't seen.

Lionberger Offspring Update

Its been a long time!!!  I have a sewing post I started weeks ago that I still haven't finished but my sewing mojo took a nose dive.  It is finally coming back so I'll update that post over the weekend.  My sister, Barbara, and her family came to visit a couple of weeks ago.  Great fun and I'll post details soon.  My bike training has been coming along.  The Katy Trail bike adventure starts in two weeks so the bike is at REI for a tune-up.  REI is having a big sale so I'm picking up all my last minute items - like a rack, panniers, gloves, etc.  Its getting serious!!

All three of my children have had exciting news over the last couple of months.  Since many of you know them, I thought I would do an "offspring update".

Janet:

Janet and her husband, Nick, have bought their first home.  The building started several months ago and they signed the final papers and moved in two weeks ago.  The are officially in debt!!!  The house is beautiful - they did a great job of picking out all the stuff that goes into a new house.  I have been there a couple of times.  My jobs included putting in shelf paper and helping with some painting.  I did feel my age after the painting:)

They've got the keys!

Dining Room - Love this color.  For someone who never
painted before, she did a great job on those straight lines!

Janet painting the MBR - really pretty shade of grey

Moving In!

Janet and Nick are having an Open House in late September so you'll be seeing more pictures soon!

Sarah:

Sarah has a new job.  She has worked at Heritage Coffee the last several years but has changed brews.  Alaska Brewing Company is a great company to work for with great benefits - including free tasting!  Sarah started her new job there several months ago.  Amazingly, she gets up really early (as in 4:00 a.m.) to go to work.  She'll be learning all the different jobs as they move the employees around.

Sarah with one of the new brews!

Beware!  Student Driver on the Forklift!!

Doug:

Doug and Leigh Anne have wonderful news.   Baby Lionberger is due mid-February!!!!!  We are all so happy and pleased for them.  This blessed event will make me a "Gram" for the first time.  Doug is also transferring back to Houston before the end of the year.  They hope to rent a house in the Heights area since his office will be downtown.  In preparation for the move, they have already bought a car.  They are in Manhatten so we'll be praying for them this weekend as Hurricane Irene hits NYC.  I know they both grew up in hurricane country but as the mother, I still get to worry.  

Leigh Anne and Doug with a picture of "Baby Lionberger"